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Some Bettors Get Relief on Game Decided by Botched Call

While it remains to be seen what, if anything, Commissioner Roger Goodell and the N.F.L. are going to do about the controversial ending to the game Monday night between the Seattle Seahawks and the Green Bay Packers, the gambling world — which was boosted by the replacement referees’ decision on the game’s final play, as significant money was bet on the Packers — appears to be showing at least a little compassion.

One sports betting Web site was refunding wagers on the Packers, who appeared to be robbed of a victory after the league’s crew of replacement officials botched the final play of the game, ruling an apparent Green Bay interception in the end zone to be a Seattle touchdown instead.

The site, Sportsbook.ag, sent e-mails to some bettors — believed to be customers outside the United States — who had put money on Green Bay, alerting them to the unusual decision that their bets would be refunded in the form of a free play on the site. At least one bettor, writing on a Twitter account said to be that of the Canadian journalist Glen McGregor, posted a picture of his computer screen showing the message and quoted the Web site’s head oddsmaker, Russ Candler, as saying, “I can’t stand winning unfairly.”

The Packers were generally favored by about 3 points in the game, depending on when and where the bet was placed. With the Packers leading, 12-7, as Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson heaved his desperation pass toward the end zone, it seemed virtually certain that Green Bay would cover.

More important to the oddsmakers, it was also almost assured that the Packers, who are known as a public team, or one that always attracts action from casual bettors regardless of the line, would beat the house for the night.

But after the contentious decision gave the Seahawks a 2-point victory, everything changed. One Las Vegas oddsmaker, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss figures publicly, said his sports book enjoyed a swing of at least $100,000 because about 85 percent of the bets it received were on the Packers.

The Web site WagerMinds.com, which specializes in gambling analysis, estimated that nearly $10 million changed hands from bettors to sports books based in Nevada because of the call. Worldwide figures are difficult to ascertain because of the wide variety of outlets available for betting.

Generally, however, “Monday Night Football” games are believed to generate roughly $250 million in wagering offshore — and the majority of bets Monday were believed to be on the Packers.

Sports books housed in casinos, known as brick and mortar locations, are unlikely to refund any wagers. Online books, however, have the ability to offer creative solutions, and this is not the first time that an online operation has attempted to right an apparent wrong in the sports world.

Earlier this year one online book refunded wagers to bettors who backed the golfer Adam Scott to win the British Open after he shockingly choked away a four-stroke lead with four holes remaining. That same book also refunded bets on the boxer Manny Pacquiao after he was beaten by Timothy Bradley in a fight in which virtually all observers were stunned by the decision of the ringside officials.

A version of this article appears in print on September 26, 2012, on page B12 of the New York edition with the headline: Missed Call Lets Some Sports Books Show Pity. Order Reprints|Today's Paper|Subscribe